India and Japan will kick off an exercise ‘Ex Dharma Guardian’ at Camp Imazu in Shiga Province, Japan from February 17 to March 2, 2023. The Indian Army contingent arrived at the exercise location on February 12, 2023.
Exercise ‘Dharma Guardian’
This will be the 4th edition of the Exercise ‘Dharma Guardian’ between India and Japan.
Troops of the Garhwal Rifles Regiment of the Indian Army and an infantry regiment from the Middle Army of the Japan Ground Self Defence Force (JGSDF) are participating in the exercise this year to share experiences gained during operations in order to enhance interoperability in planning and execution.
In the series of military training exercises undertaken by India with various countries, Exercise Dharma Guardian which is an annual training event with Japan, is crucial and significant in terms of security challenges faced by both nations in the backdrop of current global situation. The scope of this exercise covers platoon level joint training on operations in jungle and semi urban/urban terrain.
AIM:
Exercise Dharma Guardian will strengthen bilateral ties and the level of defence cooperation between the Indian Army and the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force.
Garhwal Rifles
The Garhwal Rifles, formerly known as the Royal Garhwal Rifles, are an infantry regiment of the Indian Army. It was originally raised in 1887 as the 39th Regiment of the Bengal Army.
It then became part of the British Indian Army, and after the Independence of India, it was incorporated into the Indian Army.
Importance of the Exercise
The joint exercise will enable the two armies to share best practices in tactics, techniques and procedures of conducting tactical operations under a UN mandate, in addition to developing interoperability, bonhomie, camaraderie and friendship between the two armies.
The training will focus primarily on a high degree of physical fitness and sharing of drills at the tactical level.
During the exercise, participants will engage in a variety of missions ranging from joint planning, joint tactical drills, basics of establishing integrated surveillance grids, including the employment of aerial assets. The joint exercise will facilitate both armies getting to know each other better, sharing their wide experiences and enhancing their situational awareness.
Previous Editions of the Exercise
Exercise Dharma Guardian is an annual training event that has been conducted in India since 2018. The 3rd edition of Exercise ‘Dharma Guardian’ was held at Foreign Training Node, Belgaum from February 27, 2022 to March 10, 2022.
Other Exercise Between India and Japan
Malabar Exercise
India and Japan, along with the United States and Australia participate in the naval exercise named Malabar. It is a multilateral naval exercise that was started in 1992. It began as a bilateral exercise between the navies of India and the United States.
Japan-India Maritime Exercise (JIMEX)
The JIMEX series of exercises commenced in January 2012 with a special focus on maritime security cooperation. It is conducted biennially between the Indian Navy and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). The exercises aimed at enhancing interoperability and streamlining seamanship and communication procedures.
Shinyuu Maitri
Shinyuu Maitri is a Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) and Indian Air Force bilateral air exercise. The objective of this exercise is to undertake Joint Mobility and tactical interoperability among two forces.
Source: Indian Express, News on air, Wikipedia
